Farm-gate.



M. DILORENZO.

- FARM GATE. APPLICATION IILED MAY 26, 1913.

1,1 01, 1 67. Patented June 23, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

m. LN

WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cm. WASHINGTON, D. c.

M. DILORENZO.

FARM GATE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 2a, 1913.

1,1 01, 1 67, Patented June 23, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W/TNESSES: AZ 9 INVENTOR, 14oz. ww/M W W COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES MICHAEL DILORENZO, OF IRONDALE, WASHINGTOII.

FARM-GATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 23, 1914.

Application men/ra 26, 1913. Serial No. 769,846.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MICHAEL DILORENZO, a citizen of the United States, residing at lrondale in the county of Jefferson and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Farm- Gates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to farm gates, and particularly to improvements in devices for actuating gates to open or close the same at a distance therefrom.

The object ofthe present invention is the provision of simple and effective mechanism of the class described that will be positive and reliable in its action and strong and durable in the use for which intended.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of improved devices for unlatching the gate at either of said positions in advance of the actuating movements of the gate.

lVith the above objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and adaptation of gate-actuating, latching and unlatching devices and other apparatus, as will be fully described in the following specification, illustrated. in the accompanying drawings, and finally set forth in the appended claims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a gate and actuating devices therefor embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary like view on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of said actuating devices. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on line 44 of-Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail view of an element of the invention on line 55 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation and partly in vertical section of the latching devices; and Fig. 7 is a detached side elevation of the latch-lever. Referring to said views, the reference numerals 1 and 2 indicate the main gate-posts of a gateway and 3 a swinging gate of suitable construction swingingly connected to the latter post by means of pivotal connections at the upper and lower ends of its vertical end-bar 4 to brackets 5 and 6 rigidly connected to said post, respectively. Said bar is provided at its upper end with a pin 7 pivotally mounted in bracket-5 and having a segmental bevel gear 8 keyed thereon above said bracket. 4

A horizontal shaft 9 is mounted to oscillate in upright angular portions 10 and 11 of said bracket 5. A segmental bevel pinion 12 is loosely mounted on said shaft in mesh with gear 8. The gate describes a course of approximately ninety degrees in opening to its fullest extent, hence gear 8 may advantageously have, and is shown with, about ninety degrees of its circumference provided with teeth. The pinion 12 is in continuous mesh with the gear and is desirably of larger radius. It is similarly unprovided with teeth for the larger portion of its circumference and is adapted to oscillate the gear by movements communicated by said shaft as follows:

13 indicate a pair of integral lugs projecting from the face of the pinion upon opposite sides of its axis and arranged symmetrically with respect to its teeth. A pin 14 projects from said shaft adapted to engage in turn upon the upper surfaces of said lugs and thereby to oscillate the pinion in the rotary direction of travel of the shaft. lhe rotary distance between said upper surfaces of the lugs upon the side opposite the teeth of the pinion constitutes a period of travel of the shaft and its actuating pin 14 in each oscillation when said pinion is idle, the pinion being engaged and actuated by the pin in each oscillation during the latter portion of the travel of the shaft.

Rigidly connected to the opposite end of the shaft 9 is a lever 15 having a weight 16 connected at its outermost end. Said lever is arranged at right angles to the axis of said shaft and to be swung with said shaft on its pivotthrough a course of slightly more than one hundred and eighty degrees. Devices are arranged to raise the weighted end of said lever in its circular path over its center of gravity, such upward travel of the lever corresponding to said idle movement of the pin 14 with relation to the lugs 13 of said pinion, while the actuation of pinion 12 occurs during the latter portion of each oscillatory movement of the lever through power derived from the fall of the descending weight 16 after it has passed over its center. Said lever 15 is actuated, as described, by the passengers through cable pulls 17 and 17 extending a distance from the gate in opposite directions and respectively running over pulleys 18 upon posts or supports (not shown) upon opposite sides of the gate. The other ends of said cables are respectively connected to the upper legs of oppositely directed bell-crank levers 19, 19 pivv otally mounted on cross-beam 20 of post 2. The lower legs of said bell-cranksare. respectively connected to an end of links 21, 21 whose opposite ends connect to pivotal pin 22 of an arm 23. Said arm is pivotally connected at 2% to said lever 15 andcis formed at its inner end with forked branches 25, 25 extending upon opposite sides of shaft 9. Loosely mounted on said shaft in the same vertical plane as said branches is a vibratilecam 26 having its cam-face uppermost and formed with two protuberances 27 and adapted to engage alternately the uppermost of branches 25 or 25 ,respectivel y, thereby locking the arm rigidly with the leverduring the upward travel of the latter and adapted to tilt the arm 23 downwardly in advance of the lever 15 in the latter portion of each of their oscillating movements. A protruding pin 28 extends from one face of said cam toward the post 2 and engages alternately stops 29, 29 se cured to the post limiting the vibratile move ment of the cam, as indicated in full and dotted lines in Fig. The chief function of said cam devices is to rock the connecting arm 23 throughwhich the lever is actuated by said cables and intermediate connections independently of the general oscillatory motionof the lever and connected partsfor the purposeof advancing the lever beyond the dead-center at each of its o cillations, and in advance of the arm 23 so that when the latter is upon its dead-center the lever is inclin'edtoward the direction it istraveling and its weighted end 16 then gravitates dtm'nw'ardly and furnishes the motive power for opening or closing the gate. .1 x Assuming that the lever and connected parts arein thepositions indicatedin full lines. inFig. 15 with the gate closed, a pull upon either of cables 17 01'117 will influence the respective bellcrank 1 9 or 19 and its connected link,2l.or 21 'to exert a pull upon thejfarm 23. The cam 26 is iniefngagement with the up 'iermost of said branches, in this case indicated by 25 and secures the arm in temporary rigid relation to the lever. Thus the lever is raised with ,the arm which movementis likewise communicated to the cam as the pressure of the branch 25 upon its uppermost protuberance 27 is sufficiently direct towardthe shaft to secure it in place whilesuch. lifting pressure is being exerted. As the travel ofthe lever brings it to nearly a yertical position, the pin 28 of the cam engage s thestop 29 and causes the cam to Stop and remain at rest in the positionindicated in dotted lines iii Fig, 5. H The arm 23 has progressed to dead center while the leyer descending on the downward operatifve portion offits travel wherein the weight 1 6 'as serts itself; Wlien the progress of the ca s checl'redthe branch, 25? slides thereovei' and beyond, while the branch 25 follows and engages the cam at its uppermost protuberance 2?. as, the lever parts approach their lowermost position. Said branch is thus deflected upwardly while the oppositely disposed arm 23 is rocked downwardly, as indicated in dotted lines inl ig. 5. vThe-arm 23 is thus rocked upon the lower side of the lever and. when the movements just described are reversed in closing the gate, the arm will. be upon the rearward side of the lever and serve to advance the latter beyond the center where its gravity will be effective in actuating the gate. I

By the described operation the gate is opened by a pull upon, either cable17 or 17 1 and may be closed by the same means.

Referring to. Fig. 2, the numeral 30inchi cates a cam-element keyed to shaft and engaging an arm of a bell-crank lever-'31. A

cable :32 is secured to the opposite arm of the lever which runs oversheave 33 injtheendbar t of the gate, whence it extends and is connected atits opposite end to a lug 34 of a latch-lever 35 pivotally mounted in bracket 36 and adapted to engage a stop, heremaifter described, in the gate-post 1 and likewise with a similar stop in a post (-notshown) spaced from the gatewayand adapted to se- 7 cure the gate in itsopen position.

Prior to the actuating portion the travel of shait'tt) the cam-element eoenga es the shorter: arm of said lever 31 and there y pulls the cable 32 and raises the latch 35. As the shaft progresses, the cam releasesthe lever 31 and theweight of the longer farm of said lever and the weight of said latch gaturnthe lever and cable to their normal 130+ sitions wherein the latchis free to be raised by engagement with a stop; In-this eonnection it may be statedthat a rearward projection 37 isformed upon saidlatch-l ever to make it convenient for passengers to un; latch the v gate without manipulating the gate-actuating devices. V latch,,see 6, comprises a;;rod 38 slidably mounted in achambered casing" 38 mortised in gate-post l ofth'e aforesaid re; taining post at one side the gateway; A nut 39 is fixedly secured jto said rod within the casing chamber and coil springsidand eLOfa-re interposed upon the opposite sides of said nut and the respective "adj acentends of the casing. At theforward end of said rod is a head il' a-ft'ording an abutment for the gate inclosing having a forwardly directed integralextension 42 towhose extremity a tiltable Wing 43, is pivotally mojunted The forward end ofsaid wingis heayier and normally impinges upon a rest 4?: maintc n ing the straight upper edge e5 at sui ble angle and the infil r vertical edge is as ted above said "extension to retain-the la n in locked condition, and. ,Which is spac d 7 from h l d t fififlY-fiQ aw? i a 6 the latch-bar 35. When the gate is beiiig nosed,

loo

A stop for said the latch-bar engages the wing 43 Whose inclination raises the bar while at the same time the win is tilted downwardly at its inner end as t e bar progresses past its pivotal connection. The bar then impinges upon the head 41 and the wing is released and rocks upwardly at its inner end due to the gravity of its opposite end. At times the gate is closed with some force causing a sudden rebound that would sometimes result in the wing not holding the bar; to remedy the same and also toeffect a cushioned stop for the gate thesprings 40, are provided, Whose use will be readily un derstood.

As fully explained, the gate is actuated by the gravity of a weighted lever falling through a limited space. Such power is practically uniform being apportioned to supply just sufiicient force to close or open a gate under usual conditions. At times it is found that the wind when blowing strongly, adversely affects the gate-actuating functions of the mechanism through accelerating the speed of the gate unduly or, more seriously, preventin its opening or closing entirely through tie leverage upon the long sweep of a farm gate. To obviate this difficulty, an equalizing vane 47 is rigidly secured to the rear-bar 4 extending for a distance upon the opposite side of said pivots 5 and 6 as the gate proper 3 and in the same plane. Said vane is imperforate and pre-' sents a surface to the wind in a measure counterbalan-cing the wind-pressure upon the gate proper and offsetting any variation in speed due to the wind.

Vhat I claim as my invention, is

1. Gate-actuating mechanism comprising, in combination, a bracket-support, a swinging gate pivotally mounted on said bracket, a gear secured to the pivot of the gate, a shaft journaled for oscillation in said bracket, a pinion loosely connected to said shaft and meshing with said gear, devices on said shaft engageable with said pinion for actuating the pinion during the latter portion of its travel, a weighted lever rigidly connected to said shaft, and means for manually raising said lever over the center of the shaft.

2. Gate-actuating mechanism comprising, in combination, a bracket-support, a swinging gate pivotally mounted on said bracket, a gear secured to the pivot of the gate, a shaft journaled for oscillation in said bracket, a pinion loosely connected to said shaft and meshing with said gear, said pinion provided with a pair of spaced abutmcnts, devices on said shaft engaging for a portion of its travel with one or the other of said abutments, a weighted lever rigidly connected to said shaft, and means for manually raising said lever over the center of the shaft.

3. Gate-actuating mechanism, comprising,

in combination, a gate-post, a gate swing ingly mounted on said gate-post, a bevel gear operatively connected to said gate, a shaft journaled on said post, a bevel-pinion loosely mounted on said shaft and in mesh with said gear, protruding devices on said shaft engageable with said pinion and actuating same'during a portion of its travel, a lever rigidly connected with said shaft and provided with a weight at its outer extremity, link devices connected to said lever, and cables connected to said link devices and respectively extending to a distance upon opposite sides of the gate.

at. Grate-actuating mechanism comprising, in combination, a gate-post, a gate swingingly mounted on said gate-post, a bevel gear operatively connected to said gate, a shaft journaled on said post, a bevel-pinion loosely mounted on said shaft and in mesh with said gear, protruding devices on said shaft engageable with said pinion and actuating same during a portion of its travel, a. lever rigidly connected with said shaft and provided with a weight at its outer extremity, an arm pivotally connected to said lever, means for securing said arm in inclined relation to the lever and shifting said arm at each oscillation of the lever, link devices connected to said arm, and cables connected to said link devices and respectively extending to a distance upon opposite sides of the gate.

5. Gate-actuating mechanism comprising, in combination, a gate-post provided with a bracket-support, a swinging gate pivotally mounted in said bracket, a gear operatively connected to said gate, a shaft journaled for oscillation in said bracket, a pinion loosely mounted on said shaft in mesh with said gear, devices on said shaft engageable with the pinion for actuating the pinion during the latter portion of its travel, a weighted lever rigidly connected at right angles to said shaft, an arm pivotally connected to said lever, link devices pivotally mounted on said post and having one end connected to said arm, cables attached to said link devices extending to a distance upon opposite sides of said gate, respectively, and means whereby said arm is locked rigid with the lever at the earlier portion of each oscillation and is deflected into angular relation with the lever during the latter portion of each oscillation.

6. Gate-actuating mechanism comprising, in combination, a gate-post provided with a bracket-support, a swinging gate pivotally mounted in said bracket, a gear operatively connected to said gate, a shaft journaled for oscillation in said bracket, a pinion loosely mounted on said shaft in mesh with said gear, devices on said shaft engageable with the pinion for actuating the pinion during the latter portion of its travel, a weighted gl fcrkcd branches upon its end opfiqsit Q' aid i k c nne t ns, ifimmQunt 1* said shaft ifltcrposcd b twceh th e l aittel' zpnd f s d br he t 10 h a m in relat on .tQ h cl v r a w 'eb th e 1- Qpgcd branch isdeflcctcc1 m rock said arm in angular relatidn to sz'iid lvr at each- 05- C H iQI Y c Washington, D. 6:" 

